MINUTES
OXNARD CITY COUNCIL
Regular Meeting
April 30, 2026
A. ROLL CALL, POSTING OF AGENDA
At 5:33 p.m., Mayor Luis A. Mc Arthur presided and called to order the regular meeting of the Oxnard City Council in the City Hall Council Chambers at 305 W. Third Street, Oxnard, California. Councilmembers Gabriela Basua, Bert E. Perello, Michaela Perez, Gabriela Rodriguez, Aaron Starr, Gabriel Teran and Luis A. Mc Arthur were present. The City Clerk stated that the agenda was posted on Thursday, April 16, 2026 at the Library, City Hall kiosk, City Administrative Offices and on the website.
Staff members present were Alexander Nguyen, City Manager, Eric Sonstegard, Assistant City Manager, Stephen Fischer, City Attorney; Kenneth Rozell, Chief Assistant City Attorney and Lourdes A. López, City Clerk.
CONSIDERATION OF TELECONFERENCE PARTICIPATION PURSUANT TO ASSEMBLY BILL 2449
B. PUBLIC COMMENTS ON CLOSED SESSION ITEMS
C. CLOSED SESSION
D. APPOINTMENT ITEMS (5:30 PM)
1. SUBJECT: Oxnard College's 50th Anniversary Presentation.
Ventura County Community College District Chancellor Dr. Rick MacLennan thanked the City Council for the opportunity to share updates on developments at Oxnard College and across Ventura County Community College District. Acting Oxnard College President, Dr. Cynthia Herrera and Dr. Josepha Baca presented highlights of Oxnard College's accomplishments over the past 50 years, emphasizing the college's impact on the community, its role in workforce development and economic mobility, and the measurable economic impact generated by student spending throughout the region.
Discussed ensued among Dr. Herrera and the Council. No public comments were received.
This was a receive and file. No action was required.
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E. OPENING CEREMONIES (6:00 PM)
At 6:07 p.m., Mayor Luis A. Mc Arthur presided and called to order the regular meeting of the Oxnard City Council in the City Hall Council Chambers at 305 W. Third Street, Oxnard, California. Councilmembers Gabriela Basua, Bert E. Perello, Michaela Perez, Gabriela Rodriguez, Aaron Starr, Gabriel Teran and Luis A. Mc Arthur were present. The City Clerk stated that the agenda was posted on Thursday, April 16, 2026 at the Library, City Hall kiosk, City Administrative Offices and on the website.
The meeting opened with the pledge of allegiance to the flag of the United States led by Allison Garcia, a student at Vista Real Charter High School.
Staff members present were Alexander Nguyen, City Manager, Eric Sonstegard, Assistant City Manager, Stephen Fischer, City Attorney; Kenneth Rozell, Chief Assistant City Attorney; Jeff Pengilley, Community Development Director; Michael Wolfe, Public Works Director; Brenda Lopez., Housing Director and Lourdes A. López, City Clerk.
F. CEREMONIAL ITEMS
G. PUBLIC COMMENTS ON ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA AND NON-ACTION ITEMS
Public comments were received from Eric Andrist, Lindy Levin, Ronald Arruejo and Larry Stein.
H. REPORT OF CITY MANAGER
I. CITY COUNCIL BUSINESS/COMMITTEE REPORTS
The members of the Council provided brief announcements regarding various activities.
1. City Manager Department
SUBJECT: Setting and Adopting the City Council's 2026-2030 Five-Year Priorities.
RECOMMENDATION: That the City Council set and adopt its 2026 - 2030 Five- Year Priorities.
Public comments were received from Emmanuel Arroyo, Adriana Diaz, Zane Romero, Ray Blattel, Maria Elena Saldana, Gloria Massey Chinea, Larry Stein, Sarah Wilczewski, Alicia Percell, Angela Whitecomb and Abel Ramirez Magana.
The City Manager presented and was available to answer questions. Discussion ensued among the Council and staff.
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Mayor Pro Tem Teran recused himself from Quality of Life, Item No. Item 4, as it involves discussion and possible agreements with the school districts.
It was moved by Councilwoman Basua, seconded by Councilmember Perello, to approve the following:
Economic Development
Focus on business retention and expansion and new business attraction Train and prepare youth and adults for employment at local businesses through the Oxnard Employee Pathways
Revitalize Hueneme/Saviers/Pleasant Valley/Channel Islands corridor and the City's building at Saviers and Channel Islands Boulevard Renovate 4th St. between Downtown and train station to create a safe connection between the transit center and downtown
Make improvement to Del Sol Stadium (lighting, fields, and seating) Quality of Life
Maintain youth development and wellness programs
Maintain senior wellness programs and build the Council-approved new Senior Center
Continue to address homelessness in Oxnard
Build an Aquatic Center in South Oxnard and pursue open use of high school's swimming pools
Complete Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) compliance process in order to open the Carnegie Collection. and continue the PACC with Council's direction about the two contracts Public Safety
Maintain 911 emergency response times
Maintain fire protection services
Restore Neighborhood Police program and establish a park ranger program Restore and possibly increase paramedic squads
Complete building out of a modern disaster preparedness program to prepare the City for response and recovery from earthquakes, flooding and other disasters and create climate resilient
* Modest and incremental implementation of security cameras; data-driven by OPD
Infrastructure and Natural Resources
Maintain proper street paving cycle and incorporate bike infrastructure Maintain proper maintenance of parkways and medians, tree trimming cycle, and the clean up to gateways to the City, and maintain city parks and make upgrades to the park bathrooms
Ensure adequate future water supply
Continue to repair alleys
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Complete initial seawall repairs and continue long-term planning for the remainder.
Organizational Effectiveness
Maintain financial sustainability
Maintain the City's financial reserves and establish sufficient reserves to respond to disasters such as earthquakes and floods
Invest in appropriate staffing levels to get the job done Strengthen the City's cybersecurity and data protection Invest in staff training and development.
VOTE: Rodriguez, Basua, Perello, Perez, Teran and Mc Arthur voted in favor; Councilman Starr abstained. The motion carried 6-0-1.
J. REVIEW OF INFORMATION/CONSENT AGENDA
K. PUBLIC COMMENTS ON INFORMATION/CONSENT AGENDA
No public comments were received.
L. INFORMATION/CONSENT AGENDA
1. City Clerk Department
SUBJECT: Approval of Oxnard City Council Minutes.
RECOMMENDATION: That the City Council approve the regular meeting minutes of April 7, 2026.
2. Information Technology Department
SUBJECT: Agreement with CDW/Microsoft.
RECOMMENDATION: That the City Council approve and authorize the Mayor to execute an agreement with CDW Corporation (Agreement No. 32600479), in an amount not-to-exceed $1.5 million for the purchase of Microsoft licenses over a three-year term from May 1, 2026, to April 30, 2029.
Consent Item Nos. L-1 and L-2
It was moved by Mayor Pro Tem Teran, seconded by Councilwoman Basua, to approve the Information/Consent Items as presented. VOTE: Perez, Rodriguez, Starr, Teran, Basua, Perello and Mc Arthur voted in favor; the motion carried 7-0.
M. PUBLIC HEARINGS
N. REPORTS
O. ADJOURNMENT
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There being no further business on the agenda, and without objection, Mayor Mc Arthur adjourned the meeting at 9:43 p.m.
LOURDES A. LÓPES
City Clerk